Treating Kyphosis

A normal spine will have a gentle ‘S’ shape when seen from the side. Naturally, the neck will arch forwards slightly and the lower back (lumbar part of the spine) does the same, also known as lordosis. The thoracic part of the spine (between the shoulder blades) has a slight outward curve, and this is known as kyphosis. A normal back has a 20° to 45° curvature in the upper part of the back, yet anything above 45° is called kyphosis. Kyphosis can cause pain if excessive or if in the wrong place such as the lower back.

Kyphosis refers to excessive curvature of the spine usually present between the shoulder blades, where it curves further backwards than it should. This can cause a person to become more round-shouldered, unable to stand up straight and can cause pain. Kyphosis is broadly characterised as either postural; i.e. caused by poor posture, or structural; caused by a bone, disc, nerve, ligament or muscle abnormality.

For adults, it can be caused by the degeneration of discs and joints of the spine, or as a result of secondary conditions like osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease. In children, it can be a result of spina bifida. Diagnosis is based on a physical exam.

Scheuermann’s Kyphosis

In young children and adolescents with kyphosis, the most common form is Scheurmann's disorder, sometimes called Scheurmann's disease, characterised when growth spurts occur and the rectangular-shaped vertebrae become compressed and wedged into triangles. With Scheuermann’s, the thoracic curve will typically be between 45° and 75°.

Scheuermann’s is a hyper kyphosis, a more serious deformity than postural kyphosis as the bones have already wedged and deformed. Symptoms can develop between the ages of 10 and 15. Patients with the condition may have a visual ‘hunchback’ and can experience lower or mid-level back pain or neck pain.

Treatment

Bracing can provide pain relief for those suffering from kyphosis by adjusting the position of the shoulders and pelvis. In the growing patient, we can prevent worsening of the deformity and quickly improve appearance. A bespoke physiotherapy treatment programme, based upon pattern-curve specific Schroth principles, can be used to treat postural Kyphosis, Osteoporosis and Scheuermann’s disease. The programme will aim to improve muscle lengths and spinal extensor strength while reducing postural pain.

Read more about:

RECENT POSTS

John walks again without aids thanks to Carbon Fibre Neuro Swing AFO

When John came to see us, his ankle was in a bad way. He had around 60mm of his tibia missing and not much if any talus present. He needed crutches to support him to walk. A gait analysis and a new bespoke carbon fibre knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) later and he is able to walk again without crutches.

Caroline's "life-changing" carbon fibre KAFO

A gait anaylsis and a new bespoke carbon fibre knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) help Caroline walk in comfort again, following years of living with neurological dystonia and meralgia paraesthetica. She describes her new orthosis as “life-changing”.

Matilde’s scoliosis bracing story

Matilde travelled from Chile to LOC for bracing treatment for her adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Now, nearly a year and a half since she started wearing her brace, she has achieved near-total correction of the curvature of her spine. This is her scoliosis bracing story.

Will's Pectus Carinatum treatment story

After only 6 months of wearing bespoke pectus braces from The London Orthotic Consultancy, Will started to notice a visible difference in his pectus carinatum.

Iulia's Scoliosis Bracing Story

After trying out several scoliosis braces in Romania, Ukraine and Turkey, Iulia begins treatment with the LOC Scoliosis Brace and is already seeing results in a matter of months. Here her mum, Raluca, describes how and why they came to LOC for her treatment.

Jack's Pectus Carinatum treatment

Through bracing treatment with the dynamic chest compressor, Jack has achieved 90% correction in his pectus carinatum after only two months. Here, mum describes Jack's non-surgical treatment journey.

Iyad's severe plagiocephaly treated in just 3 months

Baby Iyad's plagiocephaly was classed as 'severe' yet was treated in just 3 months of wearing the LOCband Lite helmet.

Tal’s club foot treatment journey

Baby Tal's mother explains why she insisted on getting the Cunningham Brace to treat her son’s club foot

Pevious Next

For Plagiocephaly free photo diagnosis, please upload images in accordance with our plagiocephaly photo guide (max. 2mb each).

For Pectus, please follow our pectus photo guide (max 2mb each).